Lamp case for elongated tubular lamps



p 2, 1952 E. T. ROBERTS LAMP CASE FOR ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPS 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1948 sin N ON n w m. w alum A u F 5W5: E.s N g a 9 \W g Q QW Q Q; 9 Q

Sept. 2, 1952 E. 1'. ROBERTS 4,609,483

LAMP CASE FOR ELONGATED 'TUBULAR LAMPS 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 24,1948 IN V EN TOR.

'terial. 'rear wall I and the end walls 2 and 3 of the chamber A, andthe member M. is fabricated to Patented Sept. 2, 1952 LAMIPCASE FORELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPS Earl T. Roberts, Baltimore, Md., assignor to TheFluorescent Electric Manufacturing Company, a corporationof MarylandApplication November 24, 1948, Serial No. 61,769

- 2 Claims. 1

My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in lamp cases andis intended particularly to provide a case for a fluorescent lamp andits auxiliaries. The novel. and useful features of my improved case arethe combined chambers for the lamp and the auxiliaries, respectively,the adequate sealing of joints to prevent heat escape, and the means ofaccess to the chambers to facilitate replacement of parts.

' Fig. 3 is a bottom plan, portions-being broken awa 4 is an enlargedend elevation.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical section on the line 5-5 ofFig. l, in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of one of the sockets for the lamp.

Fig; 7 is an exploded perspective of parts shown in Fig. 6.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved case comprises a lowerchamber A for the auxiliaries, viz the ballast B and the starter switchS, and the .upper chamber C for the lamp L. The lower chamber A isformed by two members M and M of sheet metal or other suitable ma Themember M is fabricated to form the form theLfront wall 4 of the'chamberA. The

.member M has inturned flanges 5 onthe ends of wall 4 which are attachedby bolts 5' to the walls 2 and 3, respectively (Fig. 3), the jointsbeing packed with a suitable packing to form an air-tight joint. Themembers M and M are provided with flanges 6 projecting from the loweredges of the walls I to 4 and having suitable bolt holes 6' for mountingthe casing upon a suitable supporting medium (not shown) the joint beingsuitably packed to render it air-tight.

The chamber A is suitably dimensioned to contain the ballast B and thestarter switch S. The.

that the switch S is removably mounted "in the chamber A. I

The upper chamber C is formed by an element N and end plates N attachedthereto. The :element N is fabricated to form the parallel-side walls I2 and I3 and the semi-circularibottom Hi. The chamber C beingsuitablydimensioned to contain the tubular lamp'L is approximately twicethe length ofthe chamber A, the element N projecting symm'etrically'fromthe end walls 2 and 3 of the chamberA (Fig. 1). '1

As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5,. the cham-- ber C is mounted on thechamber-A so that the chamber C is inclined at approximately-'45 to thevertical.. To effect this relation,v the rear wall I of the chamber Aexceeds in heightithe front wall 4. and has its upper edge attached tothe element N bysuitable. bolts: l5,th'e. joint being packed withsuitable packing to'forin an air-tight joint. The wall 4 has an inwardlybent portion 4-11 on which is an outwardly: turned flange I5 attached tothe element N by suitable bolts 11, this joint also.being-similarlypacked. The bottom I 4 of the chamber. C is receivedinsuitableconcave seats IS in the upper edgesof the end walls 2 and 3 ofthe chamber A. 1: ,1

Each end plate N has an inwardly "turned flange I9 which is bolted towalls I2 and Band bottom Hi to removably attach the end plates N to theelement N, the joints being sealed as above described. T T

The chamber C is closed by a transparentcover 2D seated on the outwardlyturned" flanges 2| on the outer edges of the walls l2 and J3 and theinwardly turned flanges 22 on the inner edges of the end plates N. Theflanges I9 and'22 of the platesN' are so related as to provide notches22 to receive the ends of the flanges 2|. so that flanges 2| and 22.liein a common plane (Figs.

5 and 7). The cover 29 is removably attached to the chamber C by a bezel23 attached to the flanges 2| and 22 by bolts 24, the joint beingpacked, and having a peripheral, depending flange 25 embracing the edgesof the cover 20, the flanges 2| and 22 and the end plates N.

Each end plate N is provided with a lamp socket 2-6 to receive theprongs 21 ofthe lamp L, passed through an insulated retainer L seated inchamber C and bearing on walls 12 and I 3 there of, so that the retainerL' being non-rotatably mounted prevents rotation of the lamp L. It isobvious that only one retainer L suffices. Each socket 26 is attached toits plate N by bolts 26 tapped into socket 26.

It will be noted (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) that the element N is provided witha series of apertures 28 so disposed as to form ports to affordcommunication between the upper portion of the chamber A and the chamberC for a purpose presently to be explained.

I will 110W describe the circuit (Fig. :3) for the lamp rand itsauxiliaries installed in my improved casing. The power leads a and b arecarried in an insulated cylindrical case 29 -introduced into the chamberA through a suitable opening 30 in the wall 2 providedwitha=-suitableinsulating gasket 3| to provide a substantially air-tight fit forthezoase 19 therein. @The leads a and b are connected::to:theiballastnB.

A wire c connects the ballast B with the SDckBti 2 r*iL-willcnowidescribeithe userand operationzoi my izwhencnrrent is:suppiiedithrongh leads hand 17, 1

the starter switchys and:;the;;ballast1Bdonation antenause lampfLxtofunction it is'robvioushthat 1 temperaturesoi the-;air finxchamberu Atoiunctioningzof ballast. Bitends to iraisefthe -.;temperature not :the:incham'ber .G'toi-adesired ixiegree. iThis BfiBCtFiSidT-lfitl) sealedjoints-of :zthezdevice andatheportszflafiording communicatftiunsbetweenzchambers 1A: and Y10.

,A'sishown in vFig. 1,5,:ithe safety. switch qsrnan easily bereplaced;ifrequired, by releasingplate 8 ud 1-;1&emoving':it: randithesw-itcm-Siirom: chamsher A :fihoulditibenecessaryztoreplaceilampLxitcan -izber done' "withoutremoving a cover an, Ltollow'ing manner. "The-end rplate xN'iadjacent-ithe retainer L"risremoved: andits =associated parts vrmoyedethe; plate-Ni sis :imboltedrandzremovedgthe :socketzfi ismanipuiated into .a..=position to releaseQPXGDESI 21 'and: it then removed: the retainer :1

L is slipped off of the prongs fljhetube'Lcan s thenzbemanipniated tozreleaseritsprongs 2:1. at its iotherzzend from thee-socket; 25.:iat"the other end, and 1, is then withdrawn from'chamber :C. To

amomrta; new a-tube 'L in the. .case;:the:-:fo1lowing gimethod serves."The-tubal, isinserted into :the :fihamber '0 "through its rend which:has :been iznpened as above-describemzand is manipn'lated to ;;S:@-titspmngsilin the-:socketjZfiatthe unopened 4 end of the chamber C. Theretainer L is then replaced on prongs 21 at the open end of the casingC. The removed socket 26 is replaced by manipulating it to engage theexposed prongs 21. The end plate N is replaced and bolts 26' set up .to--re.tain the rassembledmartau ioints-gbeing re- ;sealed.

Having described my invention, what ,I claim :sis:

1. In a lamp case, the combination of a quadgrilateral ehamber having aside wall and a pair of end walls formed by a single element, and aseoond.: element attached to said first element tie iormzthegother sidewall of said chamber, one

:saidzelements having a passage therethrough;

radoor removably attached to said last-mentioned elementto close saidpassage; a second chamber mounted on said first chamber and having two"sidewalls and a bottom wall closing the top of said first chamber, saidbottom wall having a plurality loft-aperturesdonning1p0rtsponnnunicatinglibetween :rsaid v chambers; a @pair -;of rremovable plates-forming the:endawaHssofi-saidsecond echam- 'Jber; sockets, for :monriting theiilamp rtherein,

* mounted-ion therinnemfaoesnfisaid-;plates, respectively; and atranslucent cover formingcthe stop wa1'l;of:said secondnham-ber.

:2. a-casei for a'zduorescentiamgrits ballast and its starterswitch,:the :combination 10f two side walls, one 1=ofz :said ,rside walls;:havingimeans for supporting said thallasttin :theacase, and .the other10f said side wallsrhavingra'passagegtherethrough;'aidooriremovahly:mountedmnsaidiastmentioned-sidewaflhto close rsaidvpassage, said door rhavinggmeansiorssnpporting.said:switch in "the ease; "two-rend Walls attached to saideside walls; atop:wall :mountednnsaid side WEEDS. and said end- Wa1is,: andwghayingt apluralityof aper- "tures therethrou'gh :to ipassages yaipair of sidewalls projecting from said top Walk; a pair of endrwallsremovab'lyrmonnted on said top wall and said projectingsidewallsp. a:translucent :wall removablyi mounted on saidrrprofiect'mg fide walls andsaid removable end walls; 323161 .means "for mounting-the i lampcon;said :removabie end walls, in said case.

ROBERTS.

BLEEERENGES :BEED

The following references are of record i-n 'the "file "of-this patent:

IJNITEDSTAI'ES PATENTS Number Name rDate 22,317,845 j=';Bouohen. A'pr.27,;1943 2342;5'70 'LBiller L'Eb;f22,..l9&4 2,392,202 Tornblom r Jan. 1,.1946 2,413,666 ;'I.uok; et=;al I)ec.:3l, 1946 2A23g827 Beck. Oct.114,119.47

